FROM THE COLLECTION OF NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE BOGISLAUS PHILIPP VON CHEMNITZ (1605-1678) Intérêts des princes d’Alemagne. Trad. par Bourgeois du Chastenet. Freistade [Amsterdam], 1712. 2 vol in-12. V. 1. 405 p., V. 2. 415 p.
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Bound in speckled blond calfskin, with gilt fillet and decorative rolls framing the covers, gilt spine, with red title label and green volume label, monogram at the tail (binding circa 1800)
From the collection of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine, bearing the monogram PB (for Pagerie Bonaparte) at the tail and the Malmaison stamp on the title page. The binding is attributable to Bizouard.
First edition in French.
Important work on the political reorganisation of the German Empire, originally published in Latin under the pseudonym Hippolitus à Lapide in 1640 under the title ‘Dissertatio De ratione status in Imperio nostro Romano-Germanico’.
The title page of this French edition indicates that the book was written by Joachim de Transée, Ambassador of His Majesty of Sweden to the Elector of Brandenburg, during the preliminary negotiations for the Treaty of Westphalia. Today, the work is commonly attributed to the historian Bogeslas-Philippe Chemnitz (1605-1678), a German historian to whom we owe a great history of the Swedish war in Germany under the great Gustavus Adolphus (1648) in his native language; This work earned him a knighthood from Queen Christina of Sweden, who summoned him to her court.
Chemnitz analyses the nature of the Holy Roman Empire, points out the political mistakes being made and suggests remedies for the situation and for restoring its unity. The author advocates a general amnesty to end the wars, the expulsion of the House of Austria and, finally, the creation and maintenance of a standing army.
PROVENANCE:
From collection of Napoleon and Josephine
Les Collection Aristophil, 05.04.2019, lot 1527